Door stop



March 22, 1960 L. GLADSTONE DOOR STOP Filed Oct. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ INVENTOR Louis Gladstone ATTORNEY! March 22, 1960 v GLADSTONE DOOR STOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 FIG.4

y kmu ATTORNEW 0 mm 2 mm Wm G a R Q mM K.

DOQR STOP Application Gctober 14, 1957, Serial No. 699,129

4 Claims. {CL 292.-60)

This invention relates to improvements in door stops Sta es Patent or door holders or holders for swinging closures, which stop is designed to be sunk into and lie flush at its top with the body in which it is set.

More particularly the present invention relates to a new and novel door stop construction having an extensible member which is designed to stand up from the floor or other surface to maintain a door or like body in open position and which member, when not in use, is lowered to surface of the floor.

The use in public buildings, such as theater lobbies, churches, or buildings where numbers of people pass in and out, as for example, railway stations, schools and the like, of devices positioned in or on the floor for maintaindoors in open position, is very extensive. Many dif-,

locking means. associated. with the standing up part for engaging the door to hold it in open position. However, with such devices, when the door is released for closing, there still remains a partof the holder or stop standing above the floor surface. It is. well recognized that devices of the character described, where some part permanently projects above the plane of the floor, create a hazard to persons walking near the door when the door is in closed position and as a result persons are likely to be eriously injured by tripping over the stop and in addition the owners or proprietors of the structure where such a stopis. used may be heldliable for injuries resulting.

in, addition tothe fact that upstanding door stops create a condition which may, cause unintentional injury, it is wellrecognized,thatthere are certain types of people who are on the look-out for situationswhich may be taken.

advantageof toforrnthe basis for a law suit by intentionally falling or tripping over suchupstanding stops.

it is one object of. the present invention, in the light of the foregoing, toprovideanew and novel door stop or holder that is adapted to be sunken into the floor so as tohave its top end flush or substantially flush with the fioor surface and which embodies an extensible member adapted when extended to function for maintaining an adjacent door in open position and when retracted will be completely shielded or housed so that no portion of the retracted member can form a hazard of the character above described.

Another condition which is associated with known types of door stops which normally project or have some portion extending above the surrounding ground level, is the annoyance which they cause to persons cleaning the floor therearound by reason of thetact that when mops are used they become entangled with the door stop or even in the use of sweeping brushes the stops will be so situated as to make it diflicult to sweep or clean the floor.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide an improved door stop which when it is out of use, will have no parts exposed above the fioor surface which will cause mops to becomeentangled therewith or; which will interfere with thebrushing or sweepingofthe floor surface over and around the stop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new typeof door stop embodying a fixed portion which is embedded in or secured in the floor and an extensible portion which is projected outwardly for use and completely housed when out of use, wherein the parts are so constructed. and arranged one with respect to the other that they cannot be easilyseparated and, therefore, the extensible portion is effectively maintained against theft or removal by persons tampering with the device.

, A still further object of the invention is to provide a door stop of the character above described which, although designed in a novel manner which prevents the unauthorized separation of theparts, is atthe same time; so constructed that it may be easily and quickly disassembled by authorized persons for cleaning, it andwhen-such becomes necessary.

till another object of the invention is toprovide a stop embodying amain body portion and a spring actuated extensible portion wherein the portions are so designed and assembled. that the extensible portion can be easily and quickly secured in retracted position and further wherein the relatively movable parts are machine fitted and so assembled that the entrance of moisture, dust or dirt into the device between the parts is substantially completely prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a deviceofthecharacter stated wherein the main body portion housing the spring projected portion is'so designed that it. may be readily fired or embedded in concrete or the like and whichisidevoid ol: any openings beneath the surface in which it. is, embedded which will permit; the entranceoi contaminating-material to theinterior of the.- bodv.

Theforegoing.andlpossiblyother objects are attained by the. provision of a solid cylindrical body or a body of substantial: length having a bore formed axially therein from one end thereof in which is closely fitted a cylindrical plunger. Iheboreintheplunger enclosing body is of enlarged diameter through a portion of its length at the outer or openend thereof and such enlarged portion is screwthreaded. The wall of the bore inwardly of. the enlarged outer end portion has formed therein a longitudinal groove or slot which opens at its, outer end intothe enlarged portion of the bore and at'its inner endjoins an annular groove. The plunger which is closely fitted into the bore is connectedat its inner end with an expansible helical spring which rests upon the bottom of' the bore and the plunger carries a laterally projecting pin adapted to slide in the longitudinal and annular grooves. At its outer end the bore has threaded in the enlarged portion thereofa collar which encircles and closely fits the plunger and which is threaded into the body to be flush with the top surface thereof. This collar prevents the extension of the plunger out of the bore and the retention of the plunger in its inward or retracted position is efiected by first forcing it inward against the spring and then when the pin carried thereby reaches the annular groove, imparting rotary motion to the plunger so as to run the pin into the annular groove which holds the plunger against outward movement.

The invention will, be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showin of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient fea- 3 tures of the invention as claims. I

In the drawings:

' Fig, 1 is a view in perspective of the lowerportions of a. pair of swinging doors in whichone door is shown in open position and the other door is shown closed and showing the stop of the present invention in the floor in front of each of the doors and having its plunger extended into holding position in front of the opened door;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the stop showing the plunger thereof in fully retracted position;

Fig. '3 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 2- but showing the plunger in projected position;

' Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing several elements thereof; I

Fig. 5 is sectional view taken substantially on' the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the relationship of the parts whenthe plunger is retracted;

- Fig. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 and showing the plunger extended and having the bottom part of a door engaged thereagainst;

' Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken through the door stop structure only, substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

' Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on a somewhat reduced scale through the top end of the body or plunger housing per se showing the enlarged upper end and threaded portion of the bore;

' Fig. ,9 is a view illustrating the utilization of the flanged top of the body for maintaining a rug in position when the stop is installed in a floor having wall-to-wall carpeting thereon.

expressed in the appended At the center of the bottom wall the inner end of the bore is slightly depressed or socketed as indicated at 29, for receiving the inner end of the hereinafter described plunger actuating spring.

The wall of the bore 24 has formed therein and longitudinally of the bore, one or more grooves which are shown as extending from the inner end of the enlarged portion 27 through the major portion of the length of the bore. However, if desired, only one of such grooves may be employed. Adjacent to the inner end of the bore the wall of the latter has formed therein the annular groove 31 into which the inner ends of the longitudinal grooves 30 open. i

The numeral 32 generally designates a plunger pin or bolt, the overall length of which is only slightly less than the length of the bore, inclusive of the enlarged outer end portion 27. This plunger pin or bolt is cylindrical as shown, and is of a diameter to snugly or closely fit in the bore so that while it is adapted to have free sliding movement therein, it is at the same time machined to a close tolerance so as to elfectively'prevent the entrance of dust, dirt or moisture between its surface and the wall of the I bore.

'Referring nowmore particularly to the drawings, Fig.

1 illustrates one application of the present improved door stop or holder wherein there are shown two swinging doors 10 and 12, the first of which is in open position and the second closed. The numeral 14 designates the door sill and the numeral 16 designates the floor in plunger is turned.

which the stops are mounted, such floor'being here represented as concrete or the like, but it is,of course, un-' derstood that the invention is not in anyway limited'to the type of floor or other body in which it is installed, nor is it limited in any respect to the type of door structure with which it may be associated.

In Fig. 1 and the succeeding figures the door stop is. generally designated 18.

The stop comprises a main body portion which is gen-j erally designated 20 and which may be identified as the casing or housing in which the hereinafter described plunger is carried. This housing 20 comprises an elongate body of suitable material, preferably metal of a.

type which is not subjected to rusting, and While the. housing is shown as being of externally cylindrical form, it is not necessarily limited to such form as it may be of polygonal cross section if desired.

The housing when cylindrical, as illustrated, is provided with a suitable means for insuring its maintenance against movement when embedded in concrete, by having a number of channels 21 therein or other suitable surface formations,'either of a recessed type or of a projecting type to accomplish the desired purpose.

The outer or head end of the housing 20 is defined by an encircling integral flange 22 which is continuous with the top surface 23 and this flange and the top surface may be slightly convexed as illustrated so that the flange 22 tapers to a relatively thin outer edge.

The body of material constituting the housing has formed axially therein from the outer or head end a bore 24 which terminates short of the inner or bottom end is provided with screw threads 28 for the purpose about to be described. 7 M r The inner end of the plunger pin 32 has a short axial socket 33 therein in whichisreceived one end of a coil spring 34 the other endfof which is seated or stepped in the socket 29 in the bottom of the bore and this spring is of sufiicient power to effect, when it is released for its full expansion, the projection of theplunger pin 32 to the limit of its outward or extended movement.

Secured in the plunger pin 32 .and projecting radially therefrom is a guide pin 35., The projecting end of the guide pin is adapted to slide freely in the groove or grooves30 and is also adapted to enter the annular groove 31, being so positioned with respect to the inner end of the plunger 32 that when the latter is at substantially the limit of its inward movement in .the'bore. the pin 35 will be in position to enter the annular groove 31 when the the collar into the end of the bore and the outer end of the plunger pin '32 is also provided with ,a diametrical slot designated 38 in which a suitable implement may be engaged to facilitate turning the plunger pin either to bring theguide pin 35 into line with one of the longitudinal grooves 30 or to move the guide pin into the annular groove 31 from a longitudinal groove.

To facilitate the turning of the plunger pin to the proper position where its guide pin 35 will be aligned with a longitudinal groove 30 so that the spring 34 may react to project the plunger pin outwardly, the top surface of the flange 22 or of the head 23 has one or more guide marks thereon, as indicated at 39.

When the parts are assembled, the collar 36 which functions as a keeper to prevent the plunger pin from escaping, will be screwed in tightly by the use of a suitable implement engaged in theslots 37, and thus it will be extremely difiicult for any unauthorized person to remove the plunger pin. The rotation of the plunger pin is, of course, effected by engaging any suitable implement such as a coin, screw driver or even the finger nail, in the slot 38 while at the same time pressing downwardly slightly on the plunger pin so as to lighten the frictional engagement of the guide pin 35 with the top of the annular groove 31 and then rotating the plunger pinto the proper position for the guide pin to enter a longitudinal groove30, The reaction of the spring will, of course,-

6 project the plunger pin until the guide pin- 35 comes-into contact with the inner end of the collar 36.

Obviously when the plunger pin is to be re-housed in the housing body, the opposite operation is efiected, after forcing the plunger pin inwardly against the resistance of the spring as. The top end of the plunger pin will then be flush with the top 23 of the housing and as shown, since the flange 22 is relatively thin, and will rest upon the surface of the floor 16 or other body in which the housing'is positioned, there will be no portion of the stop or holder extending beyond the surface to interfere with cleaning or to form a hazard.

As hereinbefore stated, the plunger pin is closely fitted in the bore 24 and in the collar as and accordingly when it is moved inwardly and outwardly provision must be made for the entrance of air into the bore at the inner end of the plunger pin as the pin moves out or for the escape of air as the pin moves inwardly, and, therefore, the surface of the plunger pin 32 is provided with a shallow channel 40 which ext nds throughout the length of th plunger pin, as shown.

Where the present door stopor holder may be installed in floors having wall-to-wall carpeting thereon, theflange 22 will function as shown in Fig. 9, to assist in maintaining the carpeting in place. Inthis view the numeral 41 designates a portion of such carpeting in which has been formed an opening 4-2; of a diameter to receive the housingZll. When the body or housing 29 is introduced into the floor material, the flange 22 will press down upon the carpeting around the opening 42 and thus firmly secure the carpeting in place. Obviously in such an installationasuitable cementing material would be made use of to secure the body 20 in a preformed opening in the concrete or other material of the floor.

Another feature of the present invention which insures loss of the parts against unauthorized tampering, resides in the fact that some knowledge as to the proper manipulation of the plunger pin and the collar 36 is necessary to efiect their removal. An unauthorized person undertaking this removal of the collar 36 and the plunger pin 32 would align the slots 37 and 33 and engage an implement in the aligned slots to effect the rotation of the plunger pin and collar together. Some slight outward movement of the collar 36 with the pin could thus be etfected but a point would be reached where the guide pin 35 would enter one of the grooves 39 and thus prevent the unitary movement of the plunger pin and collar. Under such circumstances, the person having proper knowledge as to the manner of removing the collar would disengage the implement from the aligned slots 37 and 33 and press the plunger pin down until the guide pin 35 is in position to be turned back into the annular guide groove 31. With the plunger pin thus held, the collar 36 may then be freely backed out or unscrewed from the outer end portion 27 of the bore after which the plunger pin 32 can be re-turned until the guide pin 35 is again in line with a groove 30 and the plunger pin can be then drawn out from the bore.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided in the present invention a new and novel door stop having many advantages over any door stop heretofore known, particularly door stops of the type in which some portion is normally above the surrounding surface.

I claim:

1. A door stop comprising an elongate body having upper and lower ends, said body having a longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber therein opening only through the upper end of the body, said chamber having a portion in spaced relationship below said upper end which is of substantially smooth uniform diameter and an upper portion opening directly to said upper end of the body which is of enlarged diameter and provided with internal threads, a cylindrical stop bolt slidably fitted in said chamber and being of a length such that when fully retracted within the chamber, the upper end of the stop 1 such axial groove, said stop bolt having a radially projecting pin movable within the confines of said axially extending grove and being movable into said circumferential groove when the bolt is fully retracted within said body and thereby prevent extension of the bolt relative to the body, spring means housed within said body and engaging said stop bolt normally urging the same to its fully extended position, and an annular nut threadedly engaged in the upperportion of said chamber, said nut having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the major portion of said chamber whereby to snugly. but slidably receive said bolt so that the nut provides a stop surface at the upper extremity of said axial groove in the chamber againstwhich said pin is engageable to limit the upwardv extension of the bolt relative to said body.

2. A, door stop comprising an elongate body having an upper end provided, with a circumferential flange projecting radially therefrom with the body being adapted for embedment within-a mass of concrete or the like with such flange substantially flush with the surface of the concrete, said, bodyhaving a longitudinally extending central bore therein extending through said upper end and terminating at a point short of the lower end of the body, said. bore having its upper extremity of enlarged diameter and internally threaded, an intermediate portionof. said bore immediately below the enlarged upper portion andterminatingat: a point spaced from the lower extremity of said bore being. provided with a longi-.

tudinallyextending: groove, a stop bolt snugly but slidably fittedwithin; saidbore and being of a, lengthsube stantially co-extensive with the length of said bore such that the stop bolt is movable between a bottomed position within the bore wherein the upper end of the stop bolt is substantially fiush with the upper end of the body and a projected position in which a portion of the stop bolt projects upwardly above said body, a pin fixed to the lower region of said bolt and projecting radially therefrom and being received in said groove, said bore having a second groove therein extending circumferentially thereof at the lower extremity of the first mentioned groove whereby said pin in the stop bolt is movable into confined relation within said second groove to prevent extension of the bolt when the same is in its bottomed position, spring means normally urging said bolt in a direction to project the same, an abutment member threadedly engaged in the upper portion of said bore and closing oil the upper end of said first groove to provile an abutment stop for said pin and limit the upward extension of said bolt.

3. A door stop comprising an elongate body having an upper end provided with a circumferential flange projecting radially therefrom with the body being adapted for embodiment within a mass of concrete or the like wi h such flange substantially flush with the surface of the concrete, said body having a longitudinally extending central bore therein extending through said upper end and terminating at a point short of the lower end or the body, said bore having its upper extremity of enlarged diameter and internally threaded, an intermediate portion of said bore immediately below the enlarged upper portion and terminating at a point spaced from the lower extremity of said bore being provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a stop bolt snugly but slidably fitted within said bore and being of a length substantially co-extensive with the length of said bore such that the stop bolt is movable between a bottomed position within the bore wherein the upper end of the stop bolt is substantially fiush with the upper end of the body and a projected position in which a portion of the stop bolt projects upwardly above said body, a pin fixed to the lower region of said bolt'and' projecting radially'there'from' and being received in said groove, said bore having a second groove therein extending circumferentially thereof at the lower extremity of the first mentioned groove whereby. said pin in the stop bolt is movable into confined relation, within said second groove to prevent extension of the;

said-abutment member being-in the form of an annular nut having an inside diameter snugly but slidably receivingsaid bolt, the outer surface of said bolthaving a longitudinally extending slot extending throughout the length thereof to bleed air into and out of the body upon r extensionand retraction of, said bolt.v

;4;A 'dnor' stop comprising an elongate .body having upper and lower ends, said body having a longitudinally extending i cylindrical, chamber therein opening only through the upper endof the body; said chamber having. a' portion in spaced relationship below said upper end' internal threads, a cylindrical stop bolt slidably fitted. in said chamber and being of a .length-such-that when' fullyretracted within the chamber, the upper end of the.

stop bolt is flush with said upper end of said body, said.

chamber having, in its first mentioned portion, an axially extending groove and being provided in the lower region of said body with a circumferential groove intersecting such axial groove, said stop bolt having a radially projecting pin movable within the confinesof said extending groove and being movable into said circu'mferential groove when the bolt is fully retracted'within.

saidbody and thereby prevent extension of the bolt relative to the body; spring means housed within said body and engaging said stop bolt normally urging the same to.

its .fully extended position,'and an annular nut threadedly engaged in the upper portion of said chamber, said nut having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the major portion of said chamber whereby to snugly but slidably receive said bolt so that the nut provides a stop surface .at the upper extremity of said am'al groove in the chamber against which said pin is engageable to limit the upward extension of the bolt relative to'said body, said nut constituting the sole means for retaining said stop bolt within said body, and said stop bolt being provided with a longitudinally extending.

slot in its outer surface extending the full length of the bolt to bleed air into and out of the chamber upon extension and retraction of the bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,887 Forg Dec. 9, 1884" 521,341 Gardner June 12, 1894' 776,178 Guedeney et al. Nov. 29, 1904 1,624,819 Wolford Apr. 12, 1927 1,631,370 1 Gillette .J. June 7, 1927. 1,730,646. Danner Oct. 8, 1929' 1,877,177 Hinderer et al. Sept. 13, 1932 1,895,146 Brown Jan. 24, 1933 1,940,084 Grasso .L Dec. 19, 1933. 2,685,824 Coop Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 2, 1932 

